An emotional Hank Williams, Cougar’s base operations manager in St. John’s, addresses members of the media today. — Photo by Gary Hebbard/The Telegram

RCMP have released a partial list of the names of the victims of Thursday’s Cougar helicopter crash off the coast of Newfoundland.
They are: Peter Breen, 55, of St. John’s; Gary Corbett, 46, of Conception Bay South; Wade Drake, 42, of Fortune; Wade Duggan, 32, of Witless Bay; Colin Henley, 38, of St. John’s; Ken MaCrae, 47, of Greenwood, N.S.; Derrick Mullowney, 51, of Bay Bulls; Burch Nash, 44, of Fortune; Paul Pike, 49, of Shearstown; and Allison Maher, 26, of Aquaforte whose body was recovered from the ocean on Thursday.
Chief Supt. Reg Reeves of the RCMP read the names at a news briefing today.
He said the families of the seven other victims have requested that the names of their loved ones not be released at this time.
Earlier today, the family of the only survivor of the crash, Robert Decker, released a statement saying their thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those who lost their lives. They also thanked the search and rescue team, and others who have offered support, and updated the public on the state of Decker’s health.
“Upon admission to the Health Sciences Complex, Robert was in critical condition and he was immediately placed on a ventilator and life support, where he remains,” the statement reads.
“He was revived for a period of time on Friday and showed awareness of his surroundings and the family members who were with him. However, the ventilator prevented him from speaking. He continues to be heavily sedated and in stable, but critical condition. We continue to pray for his full recovery and have complete trust in his medical team.”
Reeves said the RCMP is involved in the investigation of all major aircraft crashes and incidents of sudden, unexpected death. He said the force has organized a team of investigators to assist at the crash site, and to investigate the sudden death of the casualties, assist in recovery operations and to investigate missing persons cases as appropriate.
“The RCMP will collect, catalogue and return items recovered, particularly personal, from the crash site,” Reeves said. “We are also involved in notification of next of kin and continual liaison with the family to provide timely and accurate information.”
The downed Cougar helicopter had been taking the workers to offshore oil platforms — Hibernia and SeaRose — Thursday morning when the pilot radioed he was turning back after he lost oil pressure in the helicopter’s gearbox. A short time later a mayday was received and the pilot indicated he was going to ditch the helicopter in the ocean.
A Provincial Airlines flight preparing for an offshore ice reconnaissance patrol was on the scene within minutes, officials said.
The Provincial pilot reported seeing the Sikorsky chopper floating upside down in the water. The helicopter later sunk. Two liferafts from the ditched helicopter were retrieved, however, no one was in either of them.
Cougar is the company contracted to transport workers to and from the Hibernia, Terra Nova and White Rose oilfields off the east coast of Newfoundland.
The search was called off at dusk Friday and it has gone into a recovery phase.
The Transportation Safety Board (TSB) confirmed earlier today it has located the helicopter’s fuselage on the ocean bottom in between 400-500 feet of water. Cameras on remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) from the vessel Atlantic Osprey have visually identified the wreckage.
There is no word, however, on whether there are any bodies visible inside the fuselage.
Hank Williams, Cougar’s base operations manager in St. John’s, said at the news briefing, said he knew most of the victims.
“I’ve been back and forth between our crew’s families and the families of the passengers, and each of them wants to convey the same message to each other,” he said. “They’re both feeling each other’s hurt.”
Williams noted Cougar helicopters will remain grounded until the investigation is complete.
“Our employees have been impacted as well,” he said. “We do not want to put our employees back to work, flying the aircraft (or) working on the aircraft. So it’s a stand down from our point of view at this time.”
Husky’s president and Chief Executive Officer, John C.S. Lau, said today that he and all Husky employees wish to express their deepest sympathy to those who lost relatives and friends in Thursday’s helicopter tragedy.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those who have been lost in this tragic event,” Lau said. “Together with the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, we mourn this loss.”
Husky personnel and counsellors have been in St. John providing support to the families. The company says it will continue to co-operate with the multi-agency and the Transportation Safety Board’s recovery effort now underway.
  The Canadian Red Cross, including its volunteers who have been directly aiding affected families, extends its sympathies to the families, friends and co-workers of the crew and passengers who perished Thursday morning when the helicopter went down.
  Within hours of the crash, a team of 20 Red Cross volunteers was
on-scene at a hotel to support family members of those lost in the
crash.